Barbie Hsu’s ex-husband, former mother-in-law banned from Douyin, TikTok for ‘ethical violations’

On Feb. 8, Douyin’s Safety Center announced the deactivation of Wang, Zhang, and several others’ accounts due to their online activity following Hsu’s death. TikTok’s Security Center imposed a similar ban the same day, citing violations of community guidelines.

Douyin stated Zhang and Wang "created controversy after someone’s passing and posted false videos," adding that their accounts had been penalized before but failed to comply with platform regulations.

TikTok said Zhang and Wang's accounts were removed for exploiting Hsu’s passing for commercial gain, repeatedly posting violating content, and failing to correct their behavior despite prior penalties.

Hsu passed away on Feb. 2 at 49. Her family announced the following day that the cause of death was influenza-related pneumonia, according to Sohu.

Xia Xiaojian, a social media user believed to be Zhang’s godson , was also banned for spreading false information, including claims that the Wang family had funded a private jet to transport Hsu’s ashes to Taiwan.

The bans sparked widespread discussion, amassing hundreds of millions of views and supportive comments.

Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu. Photo from Instagram

In response, Zhang told Ifeng she disagreed with the ban, denying involvement in spreading false information. She stated that Xia was neither her adoptive son nor an employee, only a supporter of her and her business.

Zhang claimed she had paused her livestreams for six days to mourn Hsu, while Wang had not livestreamed at all. "We have done everything with sincerity and respect," she said, arguing that the bans harmed her business and created "major obstacles" in her efforts to gain custody of her grandchildren.

Following Zhang’s account deletion, tens of thousands of netizens supported the decision, with many commenting: "Barbie Hsu’s wish has been fulfilled."

Wang and Hsu were engaged in 2010, just 49 days after their first date, and wed in 2011. Despite Hsu often speaking positively of Wang, they announced their separation in 2021 due to "irreconcilable differences."

Citing Mirror Media,The Straits Times reported that Hsu initiated divorce proceedings at a Taipei court in Nov. 2021. Speculations of their separation had been rife since June 2021, although Hsu’s mother initially denied any divorce.

Following their divorce, Hsu married South Korean musician DJ Koo in Feb. 2022, and Wang also remarried in 2024 to Mandy Ma, a 26-year-old businesswoman. Despite their new relationships, the former couple continued to face public disputes. Hsu accused Wang of infidelity and abuse, while Wang alleged Hsu used his credit card for lavish gifts for DJ Koo.

Hsu gained fame from hit TV series like "Meteor Garden," "Mars," and "Summer’s Desire."